KA-EX, the world’s first fast-acting cortisol stress reducer, is finally available in the U.S.!

Athletes and avid workout enthusiasts, rejoice: You can now get your hands on the world’s first fast-acting cortisol stress reducer beverage!

You’ll never believe the story behind this citrus-flavored, highly effective drink: KA-EX, the dedicated sports nutrition brand, was originally launched in Switzerland as … wait for it … a hangover cure. This not-too-sweet natural beverage was widely embraced by the Swiss following long nights out, but almost as quickly, KA-EX was also embraced by professional and amateur athletes, due to its recovery benefits after a hard workout, sports game, competition or marathon.

KA-EX reduces the “stress hormone” cortisol within just 48 hours, while other benefits include reduction in muscle soreness, an increase in energy, longer REM sleep duration, reduction in mood disturbances, and protection against sport-induced premature skin aging. Something that can improve both sleep and skin – where do we sign up?

The brain behind KA-EX is CEO and founder Pedro Schmidt, a self-proclaimed “nerd” who graduated from the pharmaceutical sciences program at the ETH Zurich – the same prestigious university that Albert Einstein attended. That’s where, Schmidt tells the New York Post, “I got interested in researching ways to improve hangover recovery – basically accelerate and also minimize the toxic effects of alcohol.” After all, most college students party too hard, and feeling good the next day is top of mind.

After Schmidt graduated, he started working at a high-paying pharmaceutical company in oncology and hepatology, but continued on his hangover-cure research before becoming a full-time entrepreneur. “I was fascinated by the whole topic, and I got my first prototype, which I myself found very efficacious,” he explains. “I gave it to my friends to test, and they basically pushed me to quit my job and bring it to market.”

After a successful launch in pharmacies, KA-EX (“kater” is the German word for “hangover,” and ex as in “gone”) quickly gained in popularity in Switzerland. Then something unexpected happened: “More and more people started writing to us that KA-EX is an absolute game-changer for their post-workout recovery,” he recalls. “They sleep better, feel more energized the next day, and see some significant progress in their [workout] performance.”

Eventually, professional athletes started approaching KA-EX, asking if it was safe to use. After three successful clinical trials, along with many athletes’ stamp of approval, KA-EX repositioned itself as a dedicated sports nutrition brand.

Schmidt unlocked the science on how to successfully reduce cortisol, which linked workout recovery and hangover recovery. “In sports, cortisol management is an absolute game-changer, but it also plays a role in hangover recovery,” he says. “So that is why I targeted cortisol management in the first place.”

According to an independent study, the scientific staff of the Swiss national football team tested their players’ cortisol levels and how KA-EX affected their recovery. After a game, an athlete’s cortisol spikes, and it would take them 72 hours to get back to normal. After drinking KA-EX, however, their cortisol levels changed within 48 hours with a decrease of 36%. That percentage can make a huge difference in recovery!

Here are some signs you have high cortisol levels:

• It’s hard to make progress in your training, and you feel like you’ve plateaued
• You’re not able to achieve maximal performance potential
• You have a hard time falling asleep
• You wake up in the middle of the night

“While phosphatidylserine is the key ingredient directly involved in lowering cortisol, its fast-acting efficacy comes from a synergistic formula that supports multiple biological processes,” Schmidt explains. “By promoting muscle repair and sleep through targeted amino acids, normalizing tissue pH levels, and reducing inflammation, the overall stress response is calmed more rapidly and effectively.”

Some of the biggest early supporters of KA-EX are members of professional sports teams, including world champions and Olympic winners across a variety of sports. Fabian Cancellara, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and CEO of Tudor Pro Cycling Team, states, “As a holistic recovery product, KA-EX is the perfect complement to offer our rider the best possible conditions for top performance.” Zhou Guanyu, F1 driver for Alfa Romeo, says, “Our team relies on KA-EX to be at our best in every circumstance.”

Schmidt adds, “Although KA-EX became popular through high-performing athletes, in Switzerland now it is one of the best-selling supplements on the market, sold in pharmacies, supermarkets, convenience stores and gyms. It is used by a very broad audience who are looking to improve their general well-being and day-to-day energy.”

This product comes in a patented bottle that keeps the powder separate from the pre-mixed liquid to preserve the stability of sensitive ingredients. The separation ensures that acidic and alkaline substances remain apart until activation. Once mixed, it should be consumed within an hour.

After a successful launch last year at California locations of Equinox, KA-EX is currently available at Equinox Earthbar locations in New York and Los Angeles, Happier Grocery in New York City, GoPuff, BevMo, several F45 studios, Amazon, and The Feed. You can also find it online at KA-EX.com.